Donal C. Fox

For the American composer, pianist, improviser, see Donal Fox.

Donal C. Fox (December 16, 1903 – August 15, 1987) was an American Democratic Party official who represented Essex County, New Jersey in the New Jersey State Senate from 1956 to 1964. Born in Amesbury, Massachusetts, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Fordham Law School and practiced law in Newark, New Jersey. He served as the Deputy Attorney General of New Jersey, the First Assistant Essex County Prosecutor, the Chairman of the South Orange Planning Board and as President of the Essex County Bar Association.^[1]

Donal C. Fox
Member of the New Jersey Senate from Essex County
In office 1956–1964
Preceded by	Mark Anton
Succeeded by	C. Robert Sarcone
Personal details
Born	Donal C. Fox December 16, 1903 Amesbury, Massachusetts
Died	August 15, 1987(1987-08-15) (aged 83)
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Pennsylvania

In 1955, Fox became the Democratic nominee for State Senator, challenging freshman Republican incumbent Mark Anton. Anton faced a split among Essex Republican factions after just narrowly defeating Assembly Majority Leader William O. Barnes in the GOP Primary.^[2] Fox beat Anton by 7,809 votes out of more than 230,000 cast, a 51%-48% win.^[3]

Fox won re-election to a second term in 1959, defeating Republican Alfred Clapp, who served in the State Senate from 1948 to 1953, when he resigned to become a Superior Court Judge. Clapp left the bench to help the GOP regain the Senate seat, but Fox won by 14,582 votes, a 51%-45% win.^[4]

He did not seek re-election to a third term in 1963 after losing the support of the Essex County Democratic organization, but instead accepted an appointment by Governor Richard J. Hughes as a Commissioner of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor.^[5]

References

1. Fitgerald's Legislative Manual of New Jersey. Joseph J. Gribbins. 1959. p. 359.
2. Wright, George Cable (20 April 1955). "PRIMARY IN ESSEX IS WON BY ANTON; Republican Incumbent Beats Barnes in Race for the Key Jersey Senate Nomination". New York Times.
3. "Our Campaigns". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
4. "Our Campaigns". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
5. Wright, George Cable (25 June 1963). "Fox Picked to Succeed Thompson In Waterfront Commission Post; Jersey Governor Notifies Incumbent That He Is Appointing Senator To Leave Seat Vacant Took Post in 1958". New York Times.